Kitchen - large modern ceramic tile kitchen idea in Chicago with medium tone wood cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and a triple-bowl sink

Large mountain style stamped concrete front porch idea with a pergola

THE SETUP This client lives in a great high-rise condo in downtown Chicago. Alicia has already remodeled a few areas of her home, including her kitchen and home office. The bathroom is one of the last big places the client wanted to update. The existing bathroom had a large, outdated whirlpool tub in the corner. It was a darker space that had a lack of natural light. There are no windows (due to the bathroom’s location within the high-rise building). So, the idea was to brighten up the space and give the client an updated, elegant primary bathroom that is more her style and tailor-made for her routines. Design Objectives: - Make the space brighter. - Create different daily routine stations to maximize functionality while keeping things clutter-free – a makeup station, a blow-dry station, and a sink-needs station. - Achieve the client’s specific style and function needs while also keeping the look and design open to future possibilities: different users of the space/resale clients. Design Challenges: - Toilet cannot be moved. (In a high-rise, you can’t really move plumbing around too much when reimagining a space) - Existing bathroom had a soffit that hid a lot of electrical wiring, so completely removing the soffit wasn’t an option. - The blow-dry station needs to accommodate the client’s preference for standing up. - Finding a place for the make-up station, which the client wants oriented for sitting. - Create storage within the shower that can eliminate the clutter of personal care products that are actually needed every day. Do this, while keeping the client’s favorite things about the existing shower: the shower bench, a tub filler faucet (for rinsing shaving cream when shaving legs) and a low niche for placing her foot when shaving her legs. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: - Extended a bit of wall near the toilet to give the commode its own area within the space, but without closing it off into a claustrophobic WC. - Worked within the reality of the existing soffit situation, reshaping it to align with the new shower. Can lights were also added. Installed a beautiful ceiling light fixture that works within the new soffit shape, commanding attention and adding light, as if the sofit shape was chosen for it. - Created a nice, furniture-looking 42”-high cabinet with pullout drawers to be the blow-dry station, complete with a mirror and a nice top. The pullout drawers are all powered, concealing a Dyson dryer and curling iron (and all the accoutrements) while keeping them plugged in, which is ideal for easy usage and put away. A stylish mirror on the wall above the cabinet, and proper lighting, make this the perfect blow-dry station. The top has a grommet that can accommodate a power cord should the client ever want to have a powered device on top of the cabinet. - Put the sit-down makeup station where the tub used to be, putting the mirror back into a new recessed wall just a bit, allowing the area to have more room. - Created a niche in the shower’s inner wall so that you can’t see it unless you are literally inside the shower. At the client’s request, it also has a hook so she can hang her loofa. Hiding the utility niche in this way allowed us to use the full main wall of the shower as a canvas for a beautiful accent stripe of raised decorative tile. The new shower has her old favorites, too: the tub filler, foot niche and bench. Alicia’s client loves her new primary bathroom, especially the blow dry area. It is very accommodating for her, as a tall lady, while being very easy to use. The drawers store everything. Being powered, they make using already-plugged in appliances very easy to use and put away. Her previous makeup station was a freestanding vanity with a single drawer, so beauty products were all over the surface top. With her new makeup station, everything is nicely tucked away and organized in drawers. The new lighting is fantastic and the colors are light and soft. The clients loves the overall look and feel of her new bathroom and raves about how well the functionality-minded design makes her morning routine – and her life – easier and enjoyable!

Two story Mexican palm thatch palapa build of this residence. The top deck is open beam construction with thatch visible from the underside. The lower deck is 100% waterproof to protect electronic equipment and heating elements.

Example of a small mountain style single-wall carpeted wet bar design with medium tone wood cabinets

This master bath ‘Renovision’ came with three main requests from the homeowner: more storage, a larger shower and a luxurious look that feels like being at an upscale hotel. The Renovisions team accomplished these wishes and exceeded the clients expectations. Request number 1: more storage. The existing closet was reconfigured to accommodate better storage for towels and bath supplies making it both functional and attractive. The custom built pull-out hamper was perfect. The long vanity and center tower offers much more cabinet space and drawer storage compared to what they had, especially with the increased vanity height. Request number 2: A larger shower. Working within the existing footprint we were able to build a shower that is nearly a foot deeper as space was available. Creating a large rectangular cubby provides plenty of space for shampoos and soaps. The frameless sliding glass shower enclosure keeps the space open and airy while allowing the beautiful Carrera-look porcelain wall tiles to be the focus of this master bath. Request number 3: a luxurious look. Turning their once boring, builder grade bathroom into an upscale hotel-like space was challenging, however, not a problem for the Renovisions team and their creative ways of resolving design snags along the way. Re-locating the doorway to the bathroom was one way to create a more spacious flow in and out of the space. Having the right design to start was half the battle – installing the beautiful products right the first time to ensure a proper fit and finish worthy of the upscale feel is the other half. The delicate tile detail in the shower cubby is the ‘jewelry’ in the room – the soft curves of this 2-tone wave design tile adds a dramatic feel and enlightened mood this client loves. Overall, the homeowner was happy with every solution-based approach to all requests – their once dated builders bath is now bright, open and airy with a soft grey wall color adding to the soothing feel of this master bath.

© Borglund Associates
Home gym - modern home gym idea in Miami

The upstairs bedroom has high ceilings and natural wood walls for a rustic, cabin feel.
Inspiration for a mid-sized rustic master light wood floor bedroom remodel with beige walls

The existing kitchen was in a word, "stuck" between the family room, mudroom and the rest of the house. The client has renovated most of the home but did not know what to do with the kitchen. The space was visually cut off from the family room, had underwhelming storage capabilities, and could not accommodate family gatherings at the table. Access to the recently redesigned backyard was down a step and through the mud room. We began by relocating the access to the yard into the kitchen with a French door. The remaining space was converted into a walk-in pantry accessible from the kitchen. Next, we opened a window to the family room, so the children were visible from the kitchen side. The old peninsula plan was replaced with a beautiful blue painted island with seating for 4. The outdated appliances received a major upgrade with Sub Zero Wolf cooking and food preservation products. The visual beauty of the vaulted ceiling is enhanced by long pendants and oversized crown molding. A hard-working wood tile floor grounds the blue and white colorway. The colors are repeated in a lovely blue and white screened marble tile. White porcelain subway tiles frame the feature. The biggest and possibly the most appreciated change to the space was when we opened the wall from the kitchen into the dining room to connect the disjointed spaces. Now the family has experienced a new appreciation for their home. Rooms which were previously storage areas and now integrated into the family lifestyle. The open space is so conducive to entertaining visitors frequently just "drop in”. In the dining area, we designed custom cabinets complete with a window seat, the perfect spot for additional diners or a perch for the family cat. The tall cabinets store all the china and crystal once stored in a back closet. Now it is always ready to be used. The last repurposed space is now home to a refreshment center. Cocktails and coffee are easily stored and served convenient to the kitchen but out of the main cooking area. How do they feel about their new space? It has changed the way they live and use their home. The remodel has created a new environment to live, work and play at home. They could not be happier.

Bathed in natural light, this English Cottage kitchen addition honors the charm of the home’s 1938 architecture while perfectly framing sweeping garden views. From the apron-front farm sink, you look straight through the garden arch into the shade garden and orchard beyond, a daily reminder of the home’s idyllic garden. The kitchen’s flow creates a natural gathering place for family and loved ones, sitting just off the living room and anchored by a custom island modeled after an antique dairy table. Its classic turned legs and warm wood give the island a timeless, heirloom charm. Deep drawers generously accommodate pots and pans, while a clever rollout above stores lids neatly in place, making every piece easy to find. A bespoke glass-front hutch in a soft greige accent color showcases the homeowners’ collected antique serveware treasures, adding both contrast and personality. To give the space a sense of grandeur, the ceiling was raised a foot higher than the rest of the home. Tongue-and-groove paneling and hand-hewn beams lend a feeling of intention and history to the added height. Arched openings—echoing the home’s original architecture—frame the breakfast nook, dining room, and entry to the living room. The breakfast nook itself is pure cottage charm, with built-in bench seating, a replicated arched niche for display, and a view that invites cozy mornings and quiet evenings. An antique crystal chandelier hangs above the island, each crystal catching and giving a special sparkle, while a leaded diamond-glass transom gracefully frames the entry to the butler’s pantry. Custom inset cabinetry brings nostalgic detail, complemented by unlacquered brass hardware and lighting. A French-made bridge faucet and pot filler in polished nickel introduce a refined mix of metals. The classic marble-inspired quartz countertops pair seamlessly with a handmade ceramic subway tile backsplash, while the Italian Ilve range stands as both a culinary tool and a statement piece. Every inch of this kitchen is designed for beauty and purpose, from integrated storage that keeps everything in its place to architectural details that make it feel as if it has always been part of this storybook English cottage. Photos by MK Photography

Mary & Rob Angelo
Small 1960s loft-style carpeted family room photo

Bedroom - rustic bedroom idea in San Francisco

Bedroom - transitional bedroom idea in Miami

Photo was taken by Brandon Maestas. This is 1/2" clear tempered glass mounted on standoffs.
Example of a trendy staircase design in Denver

Bedroom with view on the valley and private terrace. Several deco pieces found on markets of the region. Reading lights from FLAMANT. Bedding from ZARA HOME DECOR.

Creating a home with reclaimed agricultural timbers can have its own challenges; finding pieces without old mortise pockets or peg holes in the wrong spot; getting long enough lengths to span the necessary widths and more. For this cottage, the larger consideration was the available building area and overall size of the summer home. Situated on a steep bank leading directly to the lake, special planning was used to make the narrow, tall square footage of the space feel open and inviting.

Example of a mid-sized mountain style light wood floor hallway design in Boston with white walls